Effects of Strain Rate and Post Processing on Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured AlSi10mg Alloys

Abstract

The mechanical properties of AlSi10Mg alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) were investigated under different strain rates and post-processing conditions, including shot peening (SP) and stress relief (SR). Tensile tests were performed at quasistatic (0.1 s-1) and dynamic (0.015 s-1) strain rates on as-built and post-processed specimens. The results revealed that SP significantly increased the yield strength by 7.10 %, reaching 249.59 MPa, due to the induced compressive residual stresses. However, while SP slightly improved the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) by 0.25 %, it also reduced elongation at break by 18.06 %, indicating a trade-off between strength and ductility. Conversely, SR improved ductility by reducing internal stresses, leading to an elongation at break increase of 574.01 %, with a slight reduction in yield strength. The combination of SP and SR exhibited a synergistic effect, achieving a balance between strength and ductility. Strain rate sensitivity (SRS) analysis indicated that stress-relieved specimens performed better under dynamic loading conditions. These findings highlight the potential of post-processing techniques in tailoring the mechanical behavior of LPBF-produced AlSi10Mg alloys. The balanced properties achieved through combined treatments make this material particularly suitable for high-performance aerospace and automotive applications, where strength and ductility are critical under varying operational conditions.